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7 ag stories you might have missed this week - Sept. 28, 2018

Need a quick catch up on the news? Here are seven agricultural stories you might have missed this week.

The farm bill is set to expire Sunday and it looks increasingly likely its replacement will be taken up in the lame duck session of Congress following the November election. The looming expiration means 39 programs may lose baseline funding. Those programs include the Foreign Market Development program and certain bioenergy and rural business development programs. – CNBC

Canada wants to reach a NAFTA deal that U.S. President Donald Trump can hail as a victory but nevertheless has red-line issues, including the need for dispute panels and protection from tariffs. The U.S. is moving forward on its bilateral trade deal with Mexico even if Canada is left out because negotiators can’t resolve their differences over dairy and a dispute resolution system, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said. – Farm Futures

U.S. President Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in signed a renegotiated free-trade agreement on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, Sept. 24,, marking the first time the U.S. president has finalized a major trade deal since entering office. – Farm Futures

President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to open trade talks. The limited scope of trade negotiations points to a desire for a quick deal from Trump, former Japanese economy minister Akira Amari said. – Farm Futures

Flamm Orchards in Union County, Illinois, sought expert opinions on the leaf curl and tree stress on the orchard’s peach and apple trees. The experts say the likely culprit is growth-regulating herbicide, likely dicamba. As of Sept. 17, the Illinois Department of Agriculture had received 329 dicamba-related complaints. – Prairie Farmer

As of Sept. 14, Myanmar has approved the importation of U.S. sorghum for food, feed and further processing. While this does not guarantee sales, the announcement does open an important door for feed producers who want access to the grain. – Delta Farm Press

A Utah State University scientist is testing cover crops that will grow in harmony with spring wheat while at the same time compete with weeds. A study conducted by Datu Research, LLC., finds that 89% of agricultural retailers have offered cover crop products and services in the past two years, and 94% say they want to expand these offerings in the future. – Utah Public Radio, Wallace’s Farmer

And your bonus.

A driverless tractor pulling a grain cart is being tested in fields this fall. SmartAg recently introduced its AutoCart software this fall, which allows a tractor to become part of an autonomous system. The software allows a tractor to pull a grain cart without a driver. – Prairie Farmer